At some point almost every year over the past few seasons the question is asked around the Rockies farm system if there is an heir apparent to play first after Helton hangs it up. Helton turns 39 in August and while he probably still could be elected mayor of Denver, he’s having one of his worst starts in 15-plus years with the Rockies.

Clark, 26, and 6-foot-4, 225 pounds , isn’t looking around to see what anyone else is doing. He’s concentrating on keeping a good season going. He has reached 12 home runs, 13 doubles and 45 RBIs in 55 games for Modesto in the High-A California League .

“I’m not worried about what other people are doing,” Clark said in a phone interview. “Todd Helton is a little older now, but he’s still a great player. I feel good about getting my chance when the time comes because the Rockies are big on homegrown players.”

Clark came into the Rockies organization as a 12th-round draft choice in the 2009 June draft out of Cal State Fullerton. He’ll need to make a move quickly if he hopes to reach the big leagues.

Jeff Bridich, Rockies director of player development, doesn’t want to saddle anyone with the tough expectations of stepping in for Helton.

“It’s going to take a special player who some day at some point will be the next first baseman for the Rockies,” Bridich said. “It’s too early to say that player is going to be Jared Clark.”

Playing first base in the Rockies system has been a dead-end street. Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe switched to third base and the outfield respectively to find their way into a Rockies uniform. Ryan Shealy and Joe Koshansky hit well in the minors but were traded.

“He’s a first baseman,” Modesto manager Lenn Sakata said of Clark’s place on the field. “He’s made big improvement on his defense from last year. But we still have an issue with strikeouts.”

Clark’s glaring weakness as a hitter is strikeouts. He had 59 strikeouts in 202 at-bats in his first 55 games. He’s blasted 54 home runs in 3½ seasons in the Rockies organization.

Footnotes. Bridich pointed to right-handed closer Coty Woods at Double-A Tulsa when asked his opinion of the most pleasant surprise this season.

“The entire pitching staff at Tulsa has been good, but Woods just gave up his first run of the season,” Bridich said. The Rockies picked Woods in the 33d round of the 2009 June draft out of Middle Tennessee. Woods, a right-hander, allowed his first run after 23 scoreless innings to start the season. He has nine saves. … Outfielder Andy Brown is a run machine for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. His 35 RBIs since May 1 lead all minor-league players during that span.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.